FuRyu and former Shin Megami Tensei series staff have fully announced “new school RPG” Monark; along with a debut trailer.
Having been previously teased, we knew the game would involve Kazunari Suzuki (writer on Shin Megami Tensei writer), Aya Nishitani, Ryotaro Ito (both writers for the Digital Devil Story and Shin Megami Tensei series), and Tsukasa Masuko (composer for both Devil Summoner and Shin Megami Tensei). The countdown has now concluded, revealing the full Japanese website.
You can find the debut trailer below, along with a teaser of some of the game’s soundtrack.
Thanks to translation via Persona Central and Noisy Pixel; we know more details. Albeit, Noisy Pixel claims the game will be published by Clouded Leopard Entertainment (the official website notes FuRyu is publishing, and developed by Lancarse). Taking place in Shin Mikado Academy, the player awakens to discover it is covered by a horrific Mist, and separated from the rest of the world.
This Mist would usually overwhelm a human, but demonic powers from the Otherworld can allow them to survive; the main character with the Authority of Vanity. Together with four other students, you form the True Student Council to solve the mysteries of this world, and fight back against the dark forces within the school.
Gameplay involves using “EGO” and the seven deadly sins, and balancing Authority and Madness. When using Authority skills, you raise your MAD Gauge; causing you to attack friend and foe alike when full. Combat also features a party of six characters, and a free movement battle system.
The game also has multiple endings, depending on which buddy the player chooses from the five other party members; Nozomi Hinara, Shinya Yuda, Kokoro Surugadai, and Kyotaro Date.
The initial release will support Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), with English audio and text coming later as a free update. This would suggest an English-Asia release at a minimum, as a western release has not been confirmed at this time.
You can find the Development Staff list (via Persona Central) below.
Development Staff
- Planning, Production, and Direction: Fuyuki Hayashi, Mitsuhiro Hoshino
- Scenario: Fuyuki Hayashi, Ryotaro Ito
- Scenario Supervision and Cooperation: Kazunari Suzuki, Aya Nishitani
- Character Design: so-bin
- Background Music: Tsukasa Masuko
- Developer: Lancarse
- Publisher: FuRyu
Monark launches October 14th in Japan for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The official website also mentions Steam and Valve at the foot of the page, suggesting a Windows PC launch at some point.
We will keep you informed as we learn more.
UPDATE: NIS America have confirmed they are publishing the game in the west, along with the western release date.
Along with an English subtitled trailer, the English official website confirms many of the game’s details.
As aforementioned, players awaken in the academy linked to the Otherworld, with four companions to and the power of Daemons to fight in tactical RPG combat. The Mist drives humans insane, but being a Pactbearer, using Daemonic Authority ruled by their Egos, protects them.
In addition, players own Ego can develop their sense of self. The seven axis of their desires will shift based on their choices and actions. As these desires build, the attributes and customization options of the Fiends under your command expand.
When investigating the academy, players must find special phones and make calls to the Otherworld. Along with puzzles, players will need to contend with the Mist and those who have succumbed to it; the Unsettled.
The game’s Steam page is also now live. You can find the full rundown below.
Descent into Madness: Jump between exploring the Mist of the real world and fighting within the enigmatic Otherworld. Call upon allies, fight enemies, and unravel the mysteries surrounding your academy. Will you save the world or go mad and destroy yourself?
Into The Mist and Beyond: Dive into a dark realm where reality and the self collide. The mysterious worlds you’ll explore are brought to life in a surreal, dark neo-fantasy style, with intricate character designs and evocative settings.
Power of the Ego: Strengthen your Ego and customize the appearance and abilities of your Fiends. Unlock different Fiends to command in battle, and use the freeform tactical system to position your units and unleash destruction upon your enemies.
Story
How far will you go to save the ones you love? Could you face the threats that surround you? Could you face yourself?
Your world is plunged into madness when the mysterious and deadly Mist surrounds Shin Mikado Academy. In order to save your friends, you enter the Otherworld, a Daemon-filled dimension beyond the real world. Within this enigmatic realm, you must learn to harness your Authority of Vanity and conjure a battalion of Fiends, whose power comes from the Ego of their master.Develop your Ego through various psychological tests to enhance the power of your Fiends, and lead your forces into battle to fight with and against the seven “Pactbearers” that are corrupting the academy. Embrace the power of your madness to gain strength, but take care not to delve too far, lest you risk losing yourself. Fellow students and instructors will lend you their aid in your quest to resolve the anomalies throughout the campus.
